Murder suspect in custody after hourslong standoff that shut down I-75 near Alico Road
LEE COUNTY, Fla. —
A murder suspect was arrested after a massive law enforcement response shut down Interstate 75 near Alico Road for hours Wednesday afternoon, following an armed standoff tied to a fatal shooting in St. Petersburg.
Authorities said the driver of a pickup truck, identified as the suspect in the homicide, barricaded himself on the interstate, prompting Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies to surround the vehicle.
Law enforcement with weapons drawn during a standoff with the murder suspect.
According to troopers, they received a Be On The Lookout alert regarding the suspect, who was believed to be suicidal. FHP said they attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect was accused of fleeing.
A PIT maneuver was conducted, but the suspect was accused of barricading himself in the vehicle on I-75 before he was taken into custody, FHP said.
The suspect was taken to the hospital with serious injuries; no law enforcement was injured, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is on scene to investigate the Use of Control, according to troopers.
All lanes of the interstate were blocked by law enforcement vehicles, causing major delays. Two northbound lanes have since reopened.
Viewer-submitted video shows FHP troopers and Lee County deputies standing outside their vehicles with guns drawn, and shots being fired.
Law enforcement surrounds a murder suspect during a standoff on I-75 near Alico Road Wednesday afternoon.
What we know about the suspect
According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, the suspect in this shooting is connected to a murder that took place at around 12:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.
St. Petersburg police say that they responded to a shooting that killed a City of St. Petersburg employee. Officers say a 47-year-old woman and mother of four was shot while sitting inside a work vehicle.
Officers say the victim and suspect are known to each other.
Bullet holes can be seen in the suspect’s vehicle.
Gulf Coast News is working to learn the suspect’s name.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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